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Restoring What Matters Most After Mastectomy

For many women, breast reconstruction is about more than rebuilding the breast—it’s about restoring a sense of wholeness. At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, our all-female surgical team, including Dr. Danielle Dumestre and Dr. Tosan Ehanire, is committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered breast reconstruction care tailored to each patient's unique journey. Our all-women team has achieved a greater than 99% success rate in microvascular breast reconstruction. At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, you are treated like family, from your first consultation through every stage of recovery.

What Is Resensation and How Does It Work?

During a mastectomy, breast tissue is removed, and the sensory nerves that supply feeling to the breast and nipple are severed. This disrupts nerve signals and can leave the chest with total or near-total loss of sensation, a side effect many patients do not fully anticipate.

Resensation is a surgical nerve repair technique performed during breast reconstruction. Using processed nerve allograft tissue, the surgeon reconnects the nerves that were cut during mastectomy, bridging the gap between the chest wall nerves and the reconstructed breast tissue. Over time, these nerve fibers regenerate at a rate of approximately 1 millimeter per day, gradually becoming part of the patient's own body and potentially restoring sensation to the breasts.

The procedure can be performed during both autologous (free flap) reconstruction, such as DIEP flap, and some implant-based reconstruction procedures.

What Are the Benefits of Resensation?

Research suggests that breast neurotization during reconstruction yields improved sensory outcomes and has a statistically significant positive impact on quality of life. Potential benefits of Resensation include:

  • Improved ability to feel touch, temperature, and pressure in the reconstructed breast
  • Enhanced physical safety by detecting burns, cuts, or injury
  • Improved body image and emotional well-being after mastectomy
  • The opportunity for reconstructed breasts to feel more like your own
  • Earlier and more complete sensory recovery compared to reconstruction without nerve repair
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Are You a Candidate for Breast Resensation in Austin?

You may be a candidate for Resensation if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • You are undergoing immediate breast reconstruction at the same time as your mastectomy
  • You are planning a delayed breast reconstruction months or years after a mastectomy
  • You are considering a revision to a previous implant-based reconstruction
  • You are exploring an aesthetic flat closure after a mastectomy
  • You are a breast cancer previvor pursuing prophylactic mastectomy

Each breast reconstruction journey is unique. During your consultation at Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, your surgeon will evaluate your specific case and determine whether Resensation is right for you.

What to Expect Before, During, and After Resensation

Before Your Procedure

  • Schedule a consultation to discuss your reconstruction goals and Resensation candidacy
  • Your surgeon will review your medical history, cancer treatment timeline, and anatomy
  • Our insurance specialists will work with you to request pre-authorization, as breast neurotization coverage may vary by insurer
  • You will receive detailed pre-operative instructions tailored to your specific reconstruction plan

During Your Procedure

  • Resensation is performed at the same time as your breast reconstruction surgery and does not require a separate operation
  • Your surgeon identifies and preserves sensory nerve branches during the mastectomy and reconstruction
  • Processed nerve allograft tissue is used to bridge the gap between the chest wall nerves and the reconstructed breast
  • The technique adds minimal time to the overall reconstruction procedure

Recovery and Results Timeline

  • Initial recovery follows the same timeline as your breast reconstruction
  • Patients typically begin to notice returning sensation several months after surgery
  • Sensory feelings can continue to develop for up to two years as nerve fibers regenerate
  • You may experience tingling, pins-and-needles, or intermittent sharp sensations as nerves heal, which are normal signs of recovery
  • Clinical studies show women who undergo neurotization experience more sensation and faster recovery than those who do not
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What is Resensation Technique? Breast Reconstruction Post-Mastectomy

What is Resensation Technique? Breast Reconstruction Post-Mastectomy
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Why Choose Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery for Resensation in Austin, TX?

Choosing breast reconstruction is a deeply personal decision, and selecting the right surgical team can make all the difference. At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, we believe patients deserve access to the most advanced reconstructive techniques available—along with compassionate support every step of the way. Our all-female surgical team is dedicated to helping women feel informed, empowered, and confident throughout their breast reconstruction journey. Dr. Danielle Dumestre and Dr. Tosan Ehanire have specialized training in the Resensation® technique, allowing them to incorporate advanced nerve reconstruction methods designed to help restore sensation following mastectomy.

Patients choose our practice because we offer:

  • Specialized Resensation® training
    Dr. Dumestre and Dr. Ehanire are trained in this innovative approach to breast reconstruction that focuses on restoring both form and sensation.
  • Comprehensive reconstruction options
    We provide personalized treatment plans, including implant-based and autologous flap reconstruction techniques tailored to each patient’s goals and anatomy.
  • A collaborative patient-centered approach
    We work closely with your breast surgeon and oncology team to ensure a seamless and supportive treatment experience.
  • An all-female surgical team
    Many patients appreciate receiving care from surgeons who understand the physical and emotional aspects of breast reconstruction from a uniquely female perspective.
  • Advanced reconstructive expertise
    Our surgeons combine microsurgical skill, cutting-edge techniques, and years of reconstructive experience to achieve natural-looking results.

At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, our goal is to help patients move forward after breast cancer with confidence, comfort, and the highest quality of life possible. By offering Resensation® as part of our breast reconstruction program, we are committed to restoring more than appearance and helping restore a sense of wholeness.

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Related Breast Reconstruction Procedures

Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery offers a comprehensive range of breast reconstruction options that may be paired with Resensation, including DIEP flap, SIEA flap, PAP flap, implant-based reconstruction, nipple-sparing breast reconstruction, and areola tattooing.

Breast Resensation FAQs

Does Resensation Guarantee Full Sensation Will Return?

Will Resensation Add Significant Time to My Reconstruction Surgery?

Can Resensation Be Performed if I Had My Mastectomy Years Ago?

Does the Nerve Allograft Tissue Come From My Own Body?

What Does Returning Sensation Actually Feel Like During Recovery?

Are There Additional Risks Specific to Resensation Beyond Standard Reconstruction Risks?

Is Resensation Covered by Insurance?

Can Resensation Be Combined With Nipple Reconstruction or Areola Tattooing?

Does Resensation Guarantee Full Sensation Will Return?

No procedure can guarantee a complete return to pre-mastectomy sensation levels. However, clinical studies consistently show that patients who undergo breast neurotization regain more sensation and regain it faster than those who do not.

Will Resensation Add Significant Time to My Reconstruction Surgery?

Resensation adds relatively minimal time to the overall breast reconstruction procedure. Research has found that neurotization does not meaningfully prolong operative time in free flap breast reconstruction cases.

Can Resensation Be Performed if I Had My Mastectomy Years Ago?

Resensation may be an option during a delayed breast reconstruction, even if your mastectomy was performed months or years prior. During your consultation, your surgeon at Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery can evaluate your specific anatomy and determine whether nerve repair is feasible.

Does the Nerve Allograft Tissue Come From My Own Body?

Resensation uses processed nerve allograft, which is donated human nerve tissue that acts as a scaffold to guide your own nerve fibers as they regenerate. Over time, the allograft is replaced by your body's own nerve tissue, becoming a natural part of your anatomy.

What Does Returning Sensation Actually Feel Like During Recovery?

Many patients first notice tingling or pins-and-needles sensations as the nerve fibers begin to regenerate. These feelings gradually evolve into more recognizable sensations like pressure, temperature, and light touch over the following months.

Are There Additional Risks Specific to Resensation Beyond Standard Reconstruction Risks?

Resensation carries minimal additional risk beyond those associated with your breast reconstruction procedure. The nerve repair technique does not require a separate incision or donor site, which helps limit any added surgical risk.

Is Resensation Covered by Insurance?

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is a covered procedure under federal law. However, coverage for breast neurotization specifically may vary by insurer, and our insurance specialists at Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery will work with you to request pre-authorization before your procedure.

Can Resensation Be Combined With Nipple Reconstruction or Areola Tattooing?

Yes, Resensation can be part of a comprehensive reconstruction plan that includes nipple reconstruction and areola tattooing at the appropriate stages of your recovery. Your surgeon will help you map out the full timeline so each step builds on the last.

Schedule Your Resensation Consultation in Austin Today

Numbness after a mastectomy does not have to be permanent. If you are considering breast reconstruction or would like to learn whether Resensation may be right for you, our team is here to guide you through every step.

Contact Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at (512) 256-4146 or request a consultation today.

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Notice of Data Security Incident

Austin Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery recently identified a data security incident involving unauthorized access to its network environment. Upon discovering the issue, the practice promptly secured its systems and launched an investigation with the assistance of cybersecurity professionals.

Out of an abundance of caution, Austin Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is notifying potentially affected individuals and providing resources to help protect personal information.

Patients and individuals seeking additional information may review the full notice or contact the dedicated assistance line at 833-877-7496, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM CT (excluding holidays).

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